Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - At the end of the general audience on Wednesday, November 28, Pope Benedict XVI made the following appeal: "On 1 December World AIDS Day, a United Nations initiative intended to draw attention to a disease that has caused millions of deaths and tragic human suffering, particularly in the poorest regions of the world, where there is very limited access to effective medicines. My thoughts turn in particular to the large number of children who contract the virus from their mothers each year, despite the treatments which exist to prevent its transmission. I encourage the many initiatives that, within the scope of the ecclesial mission, have been taken in order to eradicate this scourge." (SL) (Agenzia Fides 29/11/2012)